Improvement in mucilage-brushes



DOUGLAS. BLY, LATE OF MACON, GEORGIA.` Letters Patent No. 88,265, dated Mwrch 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN MUC'ILAG-E-BRUSHES.

m The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same. i

To dll whom it may concern.:`

Be it known that I, DOUGLAS BLY, late of Macon, in the county of Bibb, and State of Georgia, have invented a new and improved Instrument for Applying Muchage; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact-description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents my improved forin of mucilagebrush in section, elevation, and end view.

Figure 2 consists of similar views ofa brush ofthe same form, the tubular portion having an external cove-iing ofbrous material.

Fig. 1 also represents a handle, formed of transverse wrrugations, for retaining the same at proper depth in the cap.

My invention consists of a mucilage-brush, or instrument, formed of a tubular elastic and iiexihle material, as India rubber, or other non-absorbent and `equivalent material, provided with a suitable handle,

its ii a cell for the retention I make my brushes in two ways, rst, by taking short sections of India-rubber tubing, of asuitable size and length, and inserting the handle, b, in one end, securing the two together in any convenientmanner; and also, by covering the tubular portion of a brush s0 formed with a chat-ing of buckskin, or'other material cfa soft, fibrous texture, as shown at c, fi g. 2,.the latter being for a brush of superior quality, and adapted to vork with more ease and facility, as the covering retards the discharge or delivery of the mucilage therefrom, and causes it to be more evenly spread, or distributed over the surface to which it is applied.

The hollow, or tubular form is best adapted for a brush for this purpose, as it enables it to receive and retain, by capillary attraction, a greater quantity of nxucilage, and diminishes the difficulty of dropping, while it delivers it gradually and equally, enabling it to he applied with precision to the desired place.

Such a brush does not divide, or become as rigid on drying, as one of bristles does, but is self-retaining in erm.

When the fibrous covering is used, the rubber tube forms a flexible interior, or supporting-structure. I find buckskin, from its nature, best adapted to retain the mucilage, by means of the papilla on its surface, and eect the distribution of the same, though felted or woven tubing, of suitable iibrous material and porous structure, will accomplish the same result, and form a substantial equivalent.

Such material, being absorbent, will not alone retain its form, so as to serve the purpose, but does so perfectly when sustained by the internal rubber tube, which is non-absorbent.

The tube may be perforated, to allow of the escape of air from the interior when immersed, to facilitate the entrance ofthe mucilage.

Some of its advantages consist in its having a wide base, so that the mucila'ge that is held iususpension wil-l lcover a larger surface than in an ordinary brush. The tube, when applied to the paper, expandslaterally by the pressure, so as to cover a larger surface, but at the same 'time preserves a well-defined limit at its boundary.

Itis cheaply and easily made, the tube-portion being cut from India-rubber tubing, in sections of suitable length, in one end of which the handle is inserted and secured; and the fibrous covering is readily applied, when a superior quality of brush is required.

In order to prevent the brush sinking too deeply into the mucilage when remaining in the bottle, I form the handle with a series of annular grooves, or corrugations, as at t' i, iig. l, and also form the cap with its tube, or stem, throughwhich the handle passes, sli ghtly elongated,and with an annular indentation, h, corresponding with the grooves t. This tube being divided longitudinally, leaves sufficient elasticity to the sides to readily slip over the grooves, when required, to adjust the depth of the brush, and at the same time to be self-retaining therein, and prevent sinking toodeeply into the mucilage.

I do not claim, broadly, the use of 'India rubber for a mucilage-brush.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.- An instrument for applying mucilage, consisting of a tubular section of elastic non-absorbent material, with a handle aliixed, substantially as-hercin described.

2. Said instrument, when formed as above, and provided with an exterior covering of iibro'us and absorbent material, to which the inner, or non-absorbent and elastic tube serves as a supporting and form-retaining structure, substantially as set forth.

3. Also, the corrugated handle, in combination with the correspondingly-indented neck of the capsule, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed myname, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DOUGLAS BLY. Witnesses:

J. FRASER, J. A. DAvIs. 

